Jean Barton (middle) stands with members of S.A.F.E. outside of the home that she shares with her husband Byron Barton and their two sons. The family had owned the home for 61 years before it was foreclosed on and, as they allege, fraudulently auctioned to Triangle Properties Development.

Triangle Properties takes legal action to force Barton family from house

07/29/2014

By Tim Clifford

Triangle Properties Development has issued a writ of Mandamus in King County Superior Court to force the Seattle Police Department to take action against the Barton family, who are back in their home after an attempted eviction by the King County Sheriff’s office on July 18, and arrest them for trespassing. In a press release from Triangle Properties Development lawyer Synthia Melton said:

“Mayor Murray’s refusal to uphold the law is undermining the legal process by preventing a property owner from lawfully using and possessing its property. The legal issues the mayor refers to in this case have already been determined by the courts. The mayor’s inaction is supporting criminal trespass, and can set dangerous precedent for how court ordered evictions will be executed, making it more difficult for law enforcement to perform its job”.

Shortly after being evicted by the King County Sheriff’s Office on July 18 the Bartons found a way back inside their home. After a group of protesters from S.A.F.E. (Standing Against Foreclosure & Eviction) showed up at the mayor’s office on July 21 Mayor Murray ordered the Seattle Police Department not to arrest the family for trespassing and to allow the issues of their case to work themselves out in court.
When contacted for a comment neither the mayor’s office nor Triangle Properties Development could be reached at this time.

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